54-13, 52-0, 53-6, 56-18 etc. etc. etc.
These are a few examples of the scores in an ugly weekend of high school football.
The KSRO Game of the Week was Petaluma defeating Santa Rosa 39-13. Of fourteen games, that was the second closest game. The only game that was closer was Kelseyville defeating South Fork 28-13.
As it should have been, the Valley Fire was felt all over the high school football week. The football weekend appropriately started in Calistoga. Then there was the cry for help for Middletown at seemingly every venue. In its game of the week coverage, KSRO added an interview with Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer.
Having that game in Calistoga might have given some people, even if it was only for a moment, some break from what had been a tough week. In some ways Rincon Valley Christian was put in a tough spot. If things were normal, they were going to be the underdog. Considering everything that happened, they were in a no win situation, which in this case is okay. I’m not sure if I would rather have been anywhere else playing a game this weekend, and would have considered it as honor to be a part of that scene.
I’m not a big social media fan. I do have a Facebook and Twitter account, but that is mainly to keep track of things in the local sports world. When something like this happens, it is a valuable place to get information.
As this tragedy hit home, it is almost impossible to go a half a page without somebody helping the Lake County area with donations, especially for the Middletown Football program. That part of this story has been uplifting. One of the things Foltmer said in the KSRO interview was he couldn’t name everyone because he would leave someone out. That is a good cue to take, considering that everyone seems to want to help.
Rivalries are all over sports, but that is what they are, sports rivalries. It is good to see being human trumps any of that.
RANKINGS…Most of the top ten had the week off and yet there is a shakeup at the top.
No. 1 Analy (4-0) (Last Week No. 2)…The Tigers have scored at least 40 points in three of the four wins. The wins are over teams with a combined record of 2-11. They have the week off before starting SCL league play.
No. 2 Cardinal Newman (1-2) (3)…Had the week off preparing for the NBL opener against Santa Rosa.
No. 3 Rancho Cotate (2-1) (1)…Of the one sided games, this might have been the biggest shocker. Antioch had a 46-0 lead at the half on its way to a 54-14 win. Running back Najee Harris rushed for 225 yards and two touchdowns and didn’t play the second half. The first touchdown for Harris broke a school record for career touchdowns and he is only a junior, Four games into season, Harris is 37 yards away from 1,000.
No. 4 St. Helena (3-0) (4)…Had the week off preparing for the NCL I opener against Cloverdale.
No. 5 Fort Bragg (4-0)(5)…The Sullivan-Triplett combination had another record night in their NCL I opener against Clear Lake.
No. 6 Maria Carrillo (1-2) (7)…Had the week off. They open the NBL schedule at home against Montgomery.
No. 7 Windsor (2-1) (8)…Had the week off. Has the NBL’s big road trip to Ukiah.
No. 8 Cloverdale (3-0) (10)…Has outscored opponents the last two games 101-18. Jumps right into league play with a trip to St. Helena.
No. 9 Willits (3-0) (9)…Has outscored opponents an average of 45-10. They are one of five teams in the NCL I still undefeated.
No.10 Petaluma (2-2) (NR)…After a 0-2 start, the Trojans took two dominating wins to give hope that there is some suspense in the SCL race.
POWER RANKINGS
No. 1 Rancho Cotate (Last Week No. 1)
No. 2 Analy (2)
No. 3 Cardinal Newman (3)
No. 4 Windsor (4)
No. 5 Casa Grande (6)
No. 6 St. Helena (5)
No. 7 Fort Bragg (7)
No. 8 Maria Carrillo (8)
No. 9 Petaluma (NR)
No.10 Cloverdale (10)
HONORS
JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY…Trying to help Middletown get back on its feet.
Vince Jeffries (SRJC)…In a weekend that was desperate for a close game SRJC came through, rallying from 29-14 third quarter deficit to edge Sac City 30-29. Jeffries passed for 424 yards and four touchdowns, the last was a 83 yarder to LaRenzo Sterling to get within 29-27. Former Analy star Kerr Johnson Jr. caught two of the touchdown passes. For the game he had six catches and 165 yards. At 2-1, SRJC has its next two games on the road.
Kaylor Sullivan and Lucas Triplett (Fort Bragg)…The record book continues to get ripped to shreds in Fort Bragg. Sullivan threw for a school record 506 yards and six touchdowns in a 53-6 win over Clear Lake. The school record tops the one he set three weeks ago. Triplett had 16 catches for 232 yards and three of the touchdowns. Both the catches and yards are school records and were all done by halftime.
Jose Ramirez (Piner)…Rushed for 213 yards and a touchdown in a 47-6 win over Burton of San Francisco. The game was stopped midway through the third quarter because Burton ran out of players.
Alvaro Torres (Calistoga)…The junior quarterback rushed for 175 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw a touchdown pass in a 56-21 win over Rincon Valley Christian. That gives him nine rushing touchdowns on the season.
Luke Bernardi (Cloverdale)…Rushed for 195 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-6 win over Healdsburg. On the season he has rushed for over 400 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Eric Egger (Lower Lake)…Rushed for 155 yards on only 12 carries in a 53-0 win over Elsie Allen. He also scored his first touchdown of the season.
Lucas Dentoni (Petaluma)…136 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns in a 39-13 win over Santa Rosa. That was part of a 351 yard rushing game for Petaluma. Quarterback Brenden White added touchdown runs of 57 and 47. Dentoni is averaging over 100 yards a game.
Brett Holguin (Point Arena)…Did it all in a 68-6 win over Tomales. He threw for 152 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown and led the team in tackles with 15.
Jack Newman (Analy)…Throw for 277 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-19 win over Acalanes which is Analy’s most impressive win of the season. That gives Newman fourteen touchdown passes in four games. Nine of the touchdown passes have gone to Schuyler Van weele, who caught two of them Friday night, part of his eight catch 124 yard night.
Will Smith (Willits)…Rushed for five touchdowns in a 56-18 win over St. Vincent. The five touchdowns by themselves combined for 163 yards.
My email address is jacpasquini@comcast.net
WEEKLY RANKINGS: A ONE SIDED, EMOTIONAL WEEK LEADS TO A NEW NO. 1
